A Comparison of Esophageal Fistula and Fecal Material to Determine Steer Diets

Abstract

Cattle diets were determined by esophageal fistula and fecal material collection procedures from yearling cattle grazing shortgrass range in northeastern Colorado. Diets were quantified by microhistological procedures from samples collected in June, July, August, and December of 1969; and June, July, and August of 1970. Total grasses occurred significantly less in esophageal samples, while total forbs were significantly lower in fecal samples. Individual grass species did not appear to follow a set pattern of variation from esophageal to fecal sampling; some were greater in fecal samples while others were greater in fistula samples. Forbs occurred at greater percentages in fistula samples, with the exception of burning bush (Kochia scoparia) in 1969. Correlation and regression analysis revealed little relationship in botanical composition determined on fecal and esophageal samples. However, an importance value ranking revealed esophageal and fecal samples were similar when individual species were ranked from the most common to the least common in the diet.